Father’s Day: Obama Style

Okay, I know Father’s Day has come and gone, but I just gotta add this one thing that would really be relevant at any time.

Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha

President Obama wrote an article for Parade Magazine in honor of Father’s Day, in which he describes his own relationship with fatherhood and the importance of having present, caring fathers involved in their children’s lives. I encourage everyone to read it: it just makes you think “I’m glad our country finally did something right.”

Some highlights:

“That is why we need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception; that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one.”

“We need to set limits and expectations. We need to replace that video game with a book and make sure that homework gets done. We need to say to our daughters, Don’t ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit and reach for your goals. We need to tell our sons, Those songs on the radio may glorify violence, but in our house, we find glory in achievement, self-respect, and hard work.”

“When we work hard, treat others with respect, spend within our means, and contribute to our communities, those are the lessons our children learn. And that is what so many fathers are doing every day—coaching soccer and Little League, going to those school assemblies and parent-teacher conferences, scrimping and saving and working that extra shift so their kids can go to college. They are fulfilling their most fundamental duty as fathers: to show their children, by example, the kind of people they want them to become.”

Post Your Comment

Shirley @ at 9:59 pm, June 22nd, 2009

yay Obama! I especially like the part where he says “We need to say to our daughters, Don’t ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit and reach for your goals.” Very nice addition.

Amy CT @ at 4:03 pm, September 21st, 2009

I agree about the quote above – and I’m so glad that Obama is looking at this sort of thing as well as all of the stuff usually deemed “important”.

I don’t know how popular opinion about him has changed in America lately, but I know for a fact that the rest of the world still believe in him. I just hope it keeps going that way. I truly do.

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